Life of the Party: 12 Ideas for Instant Festivity, Courtesy of Natural and Foraged Decorations
Over the years, Remodelista editors and writers have come up with low- (or zero-) cost tricks to spruce up the house for the holidays, all with materials from around the house, plus bits and bobs found in the backyard, garden, or on a winter walk.
Importantly, the ideas are natural, low-impact (often making use of scraps or fallen sprigs), and don’t involve buying more stuff to box away in the basement most of the year—and they’re evergreen enough to keep up all winter long.
Photograph by Sarah Statham from Foraged Bracken: Autumn’s Most Beguiling Floral Design Element, over on Gardenista.
Over on Gardenista, Clare makes the case that a single leaf or stem makes a simple—but beguiling—winter place setting.
1. Frond as Place Setting
Photograph and DIY via Bob Vila, as seen in Julie’s Single-Ingredient Holiday Decor, 10 Ideas.
Fallen pine cones as minimalist garland.
2. Pine Cone Garland
Photograph via This Healthy Table; get the full DIY here.
3. Orange-Peel Ornaments
An idea spotted via This Healthy Table: Instead of discarding orange rinds, punch out shapes with cookie cutters to transform them into ornaments, garlands, or gift toppers.
Justine found that fallen leaves, seed pods, nuts, and pinecones, touched up with just the tiniest bit of metallic paint, add a dash of glitz.
4. Blinged-Out Foraged Finds
Photograph by Justine Hand for Gardenista.
This idea comes from Julie’s The Monochrome Holiday: 8 High/Low Design Tips from Tricia Foley: Foraged odds and ends, collected on a walk or in the winter garden—like the stems of privet shown here—add a festive touch to wrapped presents (or scattered down the center of the holiday table).
Photograph by Marili Forastieri.
Photographs via Sunday Suppers from 7 Quick Fixes: Holiday Gift Wrap.
More evidence.
Another persimmon idea, this one from Marie, over on Gardenista: dried persimmons, called hoshigaki, make a vibrant hanging display that, once finished, makes a jammy and tender delicacy.
10. Ethereal Ice Herbariums
And from Gardenista contributor Kendra: Berries and botanicals encased in ice make ethereal winter herbariums.
Photograph by Justine Hand from DIY: Gilded Holiday Decor.
When in doubt, a simple branch in a vase will do.
11. The Easiest Branch Arrangements
No need for a garland: Per Alexa, a bundle of slightly wonky branches make for an instant centerpiece—string lights optional.
And a few branches of whatever’s in season, set in a vase, make a dramatic arrangement (and a nice change from evergreens this time of year). Shown here is a collection of persimmons by Louesa Roebuck, as seen in 10 Tips: How to Create a Laid-Back Thanksgiving, Northern-California Edition.
Photograph by Julia Spiess for Dinners with Friends.
Justine paired her homemade votives with a simple centerpiece made of evergreens foraged from her yard.
Photograph by Justine Hand, from DIY: Easy Ceramic Votive Holders for a Festive Table.